Finally, a somewhat easy solution for Comcast DTA boxes and ReplayTV

[Ken Sp.]

The ReplayTV would not work with the stupid Comcast DTA Pace or Thomson boxes without jumping through big hoops. Now there is a reasonable solution.

You will need a PC and have to access the drive inside your ReplayTV.

The needed self extracting PC files are on the second post here
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1256124

On the PC you hook up the drive either as an extra on the IDE ribbon or as an external.
I just did one of my ReplayTVs and it worked like a champ.

"This is the Pace/Thompson IR code hack for Replay5000/5500. It will overwrite your old IR code 0237 with data that can control the Comcast DTA.

To install hack. Connect 5000/5500 drive to PC secondary IDE ribbon. Start Windows XP. Will not work with win95,98 or ME. Click on "InstallDTAcode0237Files.bat" to start upgrade. Answer "Y" and press the enter key at the overwrite prompt. Now the required file has been installed to the replay drive. Reinstall drive in recorder.

To make the hack work. Boot the recorder. Go into setup/network and input settings. Go to Ant/Catv input and select Digital Cable. Go to "OTHER" folder and select 0237 and save changes. The recorder will download the digital guide and with the use of an IR blaster, change channels on the Comcast Pace or Thompson DTA.

That's it!"

[DavidS]

Thanks Ken. I haven't visited AVSForums in a while, so I did not see that post. I was able to get all that done. However, the stupid DTA that has been sitting in a box for a few months will not activate, so I cannot tell if the ReplayTV patch works. I've already spoken with one Comcast rep and am now on hold for another since the first did not call me back like he said he would do. Grrr...

[Will Collier]

Replays have had quite a shelf life. We still have two (heavily modded) 5040's in the house. One of them is hooked up in our guest room/exercise room, and my wife uses it all the time.

Damn shame they didn't beat out Tivo.

[Speedy]

Still use my upgraded 5040s daily.

[kj4btkljv]

I've got 2 of the 5040 machines, both with 250GB hard drives in them. Used daily here too.

Jeff

[dmorrismacresource]

Actually, the problem is much easier to deal with.

The ReplayTV 5000 series works easily with the Comcast DTA-- with two caveats.

To use a Replay TV 5000 series with a Comcast DTA you need to:

1. Get a Motorola-branded DTA from Comcast. The model number is model DTA100/2305/000

2. Obtain on eBay a "Tivo to Comcast DTA" cable from Gary Gray. He markets it as a TiVo cable but it works perfectly with a Replay TV-- at least the 5000 series. His eBay user name is g-gray. Just search for him and you'll find the cable. Make sure you get the "TiVo to Comcast DTA Cable", not his other cable which costs a few dollars more.

3. With this setup, the Replay TV works fine in concert with the Comcast/Motorola Digital Transport Adapter, using the default Motorola IR code-- no software modification is necessary for the Replay TV.

Long Live Replay TV!